Dusseldorf Indie Travel Guide

Düsseldorf is similar to Frankfurt in that it’s got a great airport
but otherwise isn’t one of Germany’s most treasured cities. Home to
much of the country’s advertising and fashion industries, this is a solid
business center and a somewhat ritzy city. Düsseldorf does have things of
interest to travelers, but it’s not the sort of place where you’d
want to spend your entire holiday.

What To Do

The Old Town is filled with your usual churches and other historic buildings,
but it’s also home to a notorious nightlife scene. One section is known
as the longest bar in the world and specializes in a special local dark beer served
in small glasses called altbier. The Andreaskirche is one of the finer churches
in the region and worth a visit if you are not too hungover the next morning.

The K20 Museum houses a notable collection of modern art in an unusual building.
There are famous works by Paul Klee as well as by Picasso, Matisse, and Jasper
Johns. The recently-rejuvenated harbor district known as Medienhafen is now also
known for its progressive nightlife and interesting design and architecture. This
formerly-crumbling area is now crammed with cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels and
clubs.

Getting There

As mentioned, Düsseldorf is home to a great airport. You can book
a flight into Düsseldorf International Airport (code: DUS) from all
the major European cities and from many longer distance destinations thanks
to it being the hub of LTU and also of Lufthansa. The airport is on the train
network so getting into the center is easy and affordable.

Where To Stay

There are several hostels
in Düsseldorf and obviously quite a few hotels
in Düsseldorf as well. It’s not a huge city so it’s not
likely that you’ll find a place too far out, but it might be worth it
to spend a bit more to stay in the center or near the Medienhafen areas rather
than somewhere remote. This is a business town so hotels can be booked well
in advance at unusual times of year due to trade fairs and other unexpected
events.